In a historical context like the one in
which we live (the collapse of ideological dogmas, institutional certainties,
etc.) it is a matter of fact that increasing numbers of people are beginning to
show an interest in anarchism and to take libertarian ideals into
consideration: anarchist groups and circles and libertarian collectives are
growing.

And this point, I don’t think it would be
untimely to talk about the difference between the individual comrade who
discovers an anarchist awareness and therefore begins to spread her anarchist
ideals and the classical militant of a political organization. As anarchists,
we are focused on the critique of the existence that surrounds us, but we don’t
omit moments of individual self-criticism that serve to make us keep our feet
quite firmly on the ground. The period of self-criticism is lacking however
among political militants, which inevitably leads them to set themselves up on
a pedestal of arrogance and presumption. By self-criticism, I mean that
individual process of self-analysis that is a part of the life of every
libertarian, through which they constantly bring into question their way of
thinking, acting, speaking and relating with others.

It isn’t a question of simplistically
examining one’s character or temperament, on the contrary, it’s a question of
driving out all the shit that Power and the Church (but also the current
everyday consumer society) thrusts into us from the moment we’re born. Certain
internal mechanisms with which we were shaped from the most tender age are
quite difficult to destroy even when one has the lucidity recognize that they
are in clear conflict with libertarian principles. One always tends to think,
“after all, I am made this way…” It is safe to say that it is a bit humiliating
to discover people who speak of self-determination, anarchy and revolution who
are totally incapable of carrying out an internal revolution that is necessary
for destroying authoritarianism in whatever form it manifests itself.

For every future collective project of
liberation, an individual voyage to grasp hold of the awareness of anarchist
ideals is essential, a project that cannot be separated from a profound
critique of the pathogenic germs of Power, present in every one of us.